Oregon Bike Trails – High School Lover

June 23rd 2011

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As you are reading this, Santa Monica, California songwriter Zach Yudin, a.k.a. Oregon Bike Trails, is probably hard at work writing the best sunny-day pop songs you will hear this year. Inspired by memories of summer vacations to Sun River, Oregon, where he and his brother would ride bicycles through the Pacific Northwest town, Yudin writes warmly ebullient pop songs built around 60’s-throwback melodies incorporating glossy keys, layered instrumentation, seamlessly-incorporated samples and reverb-soaked vocals. The result is the most exciting collection of summer jams that I’ve stumbled across this year. I’m very excited to hear more! Check out more at Bandcamp.

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Matthew is the music editor and co-founder of Turntable Kitchen. He’s addicted to vinyl records, pour over coffee, craft beer, small batch bourbon, and pan roasting pork chops.

http://veryarbitrary.blogspot.com Brian

It’s nice when an artist reminds you that just because a sound is associated with a particular time it doesn’t mean that it’s restricted to that time. High School Lover sounds nostalgic, modern, and forward thinking; in short it almost sounds timeless.

Thanks for posting!

http://www.turntablekitchen.com Matthew

Once again Brian – you and I are in full agreement. This track kinda reminds me of funneling Animal Collective through a Paul Simon song. I love it. I also recommend checking out his song “A Summer Thing” on his Bandcamp site.

http://veryarbitrary.blogspot.com Brian

I definitely thought about Animal Collective as I was listening to the song. Now that you mention it I hear the Paul Simon similarities; especially with the drums and the Simon by way of Ezra Koenig vocal characteristics (None of which should take away from the distinct individual quality of the singers voice). Can’t wait to check out more.

Man I love hearing “songs”! Know what I mean? There’s so much talent making music right now, that I would love to hear try to write a hit. I know that’s considered uncool to think that way nowadays, but your FourTops post perfectly illustrates why that doesn’t have to be the case.

Lindsey Zouein

Totally agree with you Brian. I was expecting to be reminded of all of the gushy, sweet, parts of high school love but this was so much more real in terms of the lyrics and the sounds and the opening and closing white noise. Right back there!